Budget travel ideas and the focus on economy means many Californians will be spending their summer outside. California on a budget.

May is one of the best months of the year to go hiking and camping. Weather is warming up, but it's not hot yet. Wildflowers are blooming. Rivers, creeks & waterfalls are at their peak flow. Campgrounds are rarely crowded at this time of year. Children are still in school, so large family campers are minimal. This is a perfect time to discover a new park or forest -- all local to you. Reserve your Campground before the summer busy season starts.

This web site is a collection of thousands of travel ideas, photographs & links. Practical information about cabins, bnbs, camping, road trips, dirt back roads, weekend get aways, travel ideas & local adventures... Outdoors in California!

state caliNeed a real break? Away from work, away from home, away from the urban grind. If you are fed up with city life and yearn to break away, you've come to the right spot. Day hikes, weekend wilderness treks , backpacking, equestrian and OHV trails. Total Escape is a 12 year old outdoor web site, founded by DanaMite. Specializing in showing you the best back roads, whether it be desert mountains or alpine Sierra Nevada - we have your backroad maps. California topographic maps, state atlas, hiking trails, off road routes.

dirt back roadsThe best way to loose the tourists fast, is to make a hard right on to the first one lane dirt road you see. Have your maps or GPS ready to use once you get off pavement. Vehicle ready, waypoint it & just drive. Drive until the road ends. Best swimming holes, waterfalls, fishing, meadows, hikes, climbing, mountain biking & secluded camping spots can be found way the heck back here. If you decide not to 'rough it' on the forest dirt roads, we also have a vast selection mountain cabin rentals!